Peshawar Zalmi kept their playoff hopes alive in the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a dominant performance, defeating Multan Sultans by seven wickets in a must-win encounter on May 5, 2025, at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 109 runs, Zalmi knocked the winning runs for the loss of just three wickets and 42 balls to spare, registering their fourth victory, which helped them close in on fourth-placed Lahore Qalandars.
The 2017 champions, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as Mitchell Owen fell victim to David Willey in the first over with just eight runs on the board. Saim Ayub then put together a crucial 49-run partnership for the second wicket with skipper Babar Azam, who scored a scratchy eight runs off 13 balls before being cleaned up by emerging pacer Shahid Aziz in the seventh over.
Shahid Aziz struck again in his next over to dismiss Ayub, who remained the top scorer for Zalmi with a blistering 49 runs off 33 balls, studded with four boundaries and three sixes. Max Bryant, on the other hand, batted until the end, steering Zalmi to a comfortable victory with an unbeaten 38 runs off 20 deliveries, laced with five fours and a six. He also shared a match-winning 40-run partnership with Mohammad Haris, who scored seven not out from 10 deliveries.
For Multan Sultans, Shahid Aziz led the bowling charge with two wickets for just 17 runs in his three overs, while Willey bagged one. Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi delivered a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Multan Sultans to a modest 108 runs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision to bat first backfired as his side was bowled out for just 108 in 19.1 overs.
The home side got off to a shaky start with both openers — Yasir Khan and skipper Rizwan — falling inside the batting powerplay, leaving the score at 34/2. Yasir Khan was the first to go after scoring just 10 runs off 11 deliveries, followed by Rizwan, who managed 17 runs off 14 balls.
Following these early setbacks, Tayyab Tahir attempted to counterattack with a brisk cameo but could only muster 22 runs off 18 deliveries, including two fours and a six, before falling to Ahmed Daniyal in the ninth over. His dismissal triggered a collapse as Sultans lost three more wickets in quick succession, slipping to 66/6 in 12.1 overs.
Meanwhile, Shai Hope, who held his ground during the collapse, shared a cautious 20-run partnership with David Willey before eventually getting caught and bowled by Alzarri Joseph in the 15th over after top-scoring with 23 runs off 21 balls, featuring two fours and a six.
The Sultans suffered another blow in the 17th over when Willey was dismissed by Ahmed Daniyal after a slow knock of eight runs off 16 balls. Mohammad Hasnain offered brief resistance at the end with 11 runs off 10 balls but was the last man to fall on the first delivery of the final over.
For Peshawar Zalmi, Ahmed Daniyal was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for just 17 runs in his four overs, while Maaz Sadaqat and Luke Wood claimed two wickets each. Ali Raza, Saim Ayub, and Alzarri Joseph chipped in with one dismissal apiece.
This victory is a significant boost for Peshawar Zalmi as they aim for a playoff position in the ongoing PSL season. The team showed resilience and depth, particularly with Ayub's explosive batting and Daniyal's exceptional bowling performance.
As the PSL 10 progresses, every match becomes crucial, and Zalmi will be looking to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures. With the tournament set to conclude on May 18, 2025, fans can expect thrilling encounters as teams vie for the coveted title.
